People often equate their personal value with their achievements, believing that continued success will lead to happiness and satisfaction. However, this mindset can create an unsustainable cycle of pressure. Significant accomplishments, such as a CEO's major achievements, do not guarantee future success or satisfaction, highlighting that market value is based on expectations rather than past performance. The obsession with achievement can detract from finding true happiness and peace, indicating that fulfillment cannot be achieved solely through accomplishments. Emphasizing achievement may lead individuals to overlook other important aspects of life that contribute to their overall well-being.
Marshall Goldsmith: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There
Marshall Goldsmith is one of the world’s leading executive coaches. He’s written 56 books, selling over 3 million copies, including 8 bestsellers and 4 New York Times bestsellers. He’s been ranked twice by Thinkers50 as the #1 leadership thinker in the world and ranked the #1 executive coach in the world for over a decade.
Marshall’s most popular book is What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful*. In this episode, Marshall and I explore the key lessons from this iconic book and the most common habits that hold leaders back.
Key Points
- The superstition trap: I behave this way and I am successful, therefore I am successful because I behave this way.
- The higher you go, the more your problems are behavioral.
- Winning too much is a trap for successful people. Ask yourself, “Is it worth it?”
- Be aware that your suggestions become orders.
- Avoid starting your responses with “no,” “but,” or “however.” It’s hard to hear things we already know.
- We are not here on Earth to prove how smart we are. Help more, judge less.
- We all reinforce people who reinforce us. We hate obvious suck ups, but not the good ones. The good suck ups can easily fool the best leaders.
- Beware an excessive need to “be me.” Instead, be who you want and need to be.
Resources Mentioned
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